Matcha Mint Chocolate Popcorn

Kick off your game day party by combining two snack favorites into one delicious crunchy treat with this recipe for matcha mint chocolate popcorn. It’s easy to make with only 5 ingredients and packed with antioxidants!

Disclosure: This post for matcha mint chocolate popcorn was sponsored by Sprouts Farmers Market. All opinions are my own.

The countdown to the final game of football season is here. Whether your team is in the playoffs or you just love a good party, it’s one of those days when we can all come together and have fun. I’m one of those people that’s all about the game day snacks and appetizers! Anyone else?

Like so many parties, food is the thread that brings everyone together. So that means the food better be good!

All about the snacks

One snack food that’s of course popular on game day is popcorn. I’m a big fan of popcorn because not only is it addicting on its own, but it’s also a perfect canvas for so many flavors. I love to add chocolate, nut butters or a variety of spices to turn this snack into a fun treat that can be made savory or sweet.

This year, I had the idea to combine popcorn with my other favorite snack — mint chocolate chip ice cream. While I left out the ice cream part (though that may be something to try!), I thought you could totally give the impression of mint chocolate chip by using mint extract with chocolate and then adding matcha powder, which I’ve been obsessed with lately, as a natural and nutritious food coloring to give it that minty look. The popcorn recipe is called matcha mint chocolate popcorn and it’s a crunchy sweet treat that will keep you and your friends munching!

How to make it

To make my better-for-you popcorn, I turned to Sprouts Farmers Market. Sprouts is known for their fresh produce, bulk bin items and organic foods but they also have their own line of convenient, nutritious store-bought options. For this recipe, I used Sprouts brand popcorn. They have a variety of awesome popcorn flavors, including Himalayan Salt & Coconut Oil, Lightly Buttered, and Lightly Salted. Each has 140 calories or less per serving. And get this, a serving is 3 cups!

The best thing about this recipe is that it’s so simple to make. You start with adding the Sprouts Lightly Salted popcorn to a container that has a lid and mix it with matcha powder. Then to make sure chocolate is on every bite, lay out the matcha popcorn on a parchment paper lined baking sheet. Microwave the dark chocolate with a touch of mint extract for 1-2 minutes, mixing every 20-30 seconds so it doesn’t burn. To thin out the chocolate so it’s easier to pour, add olive oil or really any oil of choice. Drizzle the melted chocolate with the added mint extract over the popcorn and then throw the pan into the fridge to set. Done!

Why it’s good for you

Not only is this matcha mint chocolate popcorn a unique and easy way to reinvent popcorn, it also happens to be packed with nutrition. Did you know popcorn is a whole grain? It’s also loaded with antioxidants, even more than some fruits! Add in matcha, which is powdered green tea, and dark chocolate, and this is a nutrient and flavor rich snack.

This matcha mint chocolate popcorn will last a few days in an air-tight container so feel free to make a few days in advance. Also, if you’re heading to a party, I’d recommend bringing a few extra bags of the Sprouts brand popcorn with you. You would make the host very happy!

So since this post is all about popcorn, I’d love to hear your favorite way to eat popcorn? Share in the comments below.

And check out Sprouts website for more #GAMEDAYGOALS snacks, entrees and desserts!